“His Majesty has collapsed!”

Ian quickly caught the Emperor as he fell with a pale complexion.

At the same time, Russell, who was standing next to Summer, rushed forward and hurriedly climbed the stairs.

The knights closed off the hall, and the confused nobles created a great commotion, everyone talking at once.

“Summer Lindsey.”

And someone gripped Summer’s shoulder tightly and whispered in her ear.

Summer quickly turned around, covering her ear with her hand at the chilling sensation.

“You…!”

Summer’s expression contorted unpleasantly. It was Duke Legacy.

With white hair and gray eyes like Ferotia, he looked at least twenty years younger than his actual age.

That made it even stranger. That he had the appearance of a young man while having a daughter around Summer’s age.

Whether this was another unique setting given by the author, or if he had done something himself, no one could know.

“Finally, an opportunity arises.”

“What?”

“To be able to talk with My Lady only when the Emperor is dead. Does this make My Lady the Emperor?”

“What are you saying…”

As Summer stepped back hesitantly, Duke Legacy’s hand firmly gripped her wrist.

“I’m quite interested in you. I also know that My Lady is quite close with our daughter.”

“Let go!”

“Our daughter told you, didn’t she? That I would kill the Emperor.”

Duke Legacy approached Summer closely with gleaming eyes, as if not wanting others to hear.

As Duke Legacy intended, all the nobles were in a state of complete chaos over the Emperor’s death and the closed hall.

Summer’s turbulent emotions settled calmly.

Ferotia. It wasn’t time for her downfall yet. If possible, she hoped her downfall would be delayed further.

“No. I already knew.”

“…What?”

“You didn’t know, I see. Why I’m being so protected.”

At Summer’s confident attitude, Duke Legacy raised an eyebrow and smiled lazily.

“Now that’s an interesting topic.”

“I can see the future a bit. The Emperor will die. And a succession struggle will occur.”

“Do you know who becomes Emperor?”

Duke Legacy sneered.

“Do you think I would tell you that? Ah, Duke. Let me give you one prophecy. As a gift.”

Summer rather took a step closer to the Duke and whispered in his ear.

“Your son. He will die first.”

“…How dare you!”

Duke Legacy’s hand twitched as if about to strike Summer.

Summer didn’t even blink and rather smiled leisurely. As if really making a prophecy.

She tried to imitate the strange atmosphere Fei gave off and the way she acted as if she knew something. Hoping it would work.

“Don’t take my words lightly. Remember them clearly.”

“So it’s true that the Lindsey daughter has gone mad.”

“Think that if you like.”

Summer smiled faintly. Duke Legacy stared at Summer for a moment before letting out a languid laugh.

“Interesting. Very interesting. Summer Lindsey, was it? Let’s be sure to meet again.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in men with children.”

“Haha.”

Duke Legacy turned away coldly, as if it wasn’t worth listening to anymore.

Summer pouted and shrugged her shoulders once, then turned her gaze back to the chaotic second floor.

Ian and Russell were already controlling the hall and calling for a doctor.

They seemed to be planning to move the Emperor after first aid, as Russell quickly prepared curtains to prevent people from seeing the Emperor.

“…”

It was the first time seeing someone poisoned right before her eyes, and even though it was a fictional world, it felt unsettling and strange.

Summer moved to sit in a corner, intending to wait until the knights opened the doors.

That’s when it happened.

Julian quickly ran up the stairs.

Summer saw that moment painfully slowly. Julian, who grabbed Ian blocking the stairs, shouted.

“Please let me see His Majesty!”

“Julian, go back.”

“I can heal him!”

“Julian!”

Ian raised his voice, but Julian paid no heed and struggled to get to the Emperor.

And the curtain was lifted. The doctors frantically performing emergency treatment and Russell sitting beside them came into view.

Covered in blood, Russell was staring at Julian with an utterly indifferent gaze.

“Let her in.”

“Russell! But…”

Ian was flustered at Russell’s words. But Russell spoke again with an excessively calm attitude.

“I said let her in.”

In that gap, Julian pushed past Ian and placed her hands on the Emperor’s chest.

And a faint light began to appear. Someone in the hall shouted.

“Holy power, it’s holy power!”

For Summer, who had already experienced this power once, it wasn’t that surprising.

“Is this okay.”

By the way, she was going to be branded a fraud by Duke Legacy. Because the story would change if Julian used holy power.

In the original story, the Emperor died when Julian wasn’t there, so there was no chance to show holy power.

As soon as Julian began to use her hands, Russell sat down on the floor and ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. Then he turned his gaze.

His lowered eyes stopped precisely at one spot.

The moment Summer saw his eyes, it became difficult to even breathe. As if only the two of them existed in the world.

“Why…”

Russell’s attitude was excessively calm. As if he had anticipated everything.

If it were him, he could have prevented it sufficiently. He could have created a situation where the Emperor didn’t drink the poison.

No way.

Russell turned his head to look at the Emperor.

The situation seemed more serious than expected, as beads of sweat began to form on Julian’s forehead.

“Just a moment.”

Russell got up from his seat. Then he slowly came down the stairs.

The nobles flocked in front of Russell, all claiming innocence.

“It wasn’t us! It really wasn’t!”

“Let us go! Are you planning to keep us with the culprit!”

Russell, who had been quietly watching their antics, opened his mouth.

“Since His Majesty has collapsed, I have the authority to act as proxy.”

“Duke! Please open the doors!”

“From now on, no one in this hall can leave even a step.”

At Russell’s gesture, the knights pushed the nobles against the wall.

The nobles, terrified by the tense atmosphere, sat huddled against the wall.

As the way cleared, Russell moved again. And stood in front of Summer.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“A little.”

“Would you like to go back?”

“No. I’ll stay here.”

As Russell slightly bent his upper body, the smell of blood wafted.

“Summer. What do you wish to happen?”

“…Pardon?”

“If you wish for things to flow as they originally should, take my left hand.”

If things were to flow as they originally should. It meant the Emperor’s death.

Summer looked up at Russell with wide eyes.

Russell remained silent. Summer ultimately did not take Russell’s hand.

She wanted things to flow as in the original story, but she couldn’t wish for someone to die.

Russell straightened his bent upper body.

Those indifferent blue eyes made it impossible to even guess what he was thinking.

“Summer. Your body isn’t well from the incident a few days ago, so wouldn’t it be better to go back?”

“I want to stay here too…”

“You are exempt. Because you almost got poisoned, and this cloth was in your hands.”

Russell took out a cloth from his bosom and held it up high. The embroidered words were fully revealed to everyone.

Summer’s eyes wavered. She couldn’t grasp how things were flowing now.

“Go back, Lady Lindsey. You are exempt.”

No noble could object to Russell’s words repeated again.

If that was true, then Summer Lindsey had tried to prevent the Emperor’s assassination and was almost poisoned herself.

Summer read the atmosphere too. Why? It was difficult to read Russell’s thoughts even though she could read other people’s thoughts.

“Take Duke Legacy to the interrogation room!”

At Russell’s words, the knights arrested Duke Legacy. Duke Legacy looked at Russell with a rare expression of bewilderment.

As if there was no way you would do this.

“W-Wait a moment…!”

“Considering the Duke’s contributions to the Empire so far, I will not imprison you.”

“R-Russell Bertrand! Wait! This is different from what we talked about!”

“What do you mean?”

Russell tilted his head slightly to the side. Duke Legacy’s already pale complexion turned even paler as he was dragged away by the knights.

“Russell…”

“If being a bystander is a crime, it’s a crime, and if knowing but not preventing is a crime, it’s a crime.”

No, it’s not. Summer’s pupils shook violently. Russell intentionally didn’t prevent it. So that things could flow as in the original story.

That’s why he was asking Summer again now.

If she wanted things to flow as in the original story. If she wanted the Emperor to die.

Of course, if the Emperor died, the story development would speed up.

After Ian took the imperial authority and passed it to Julian, Julian would become Emperor and they could reach a happy ending.

But could she stop that Julian who was trying to save the Emperor with her own will? She had no right to do so. No one did.

“Summer. You said this whole world is fictional.”

“…”

“Why are you hesitating? Why are your words and actions different? Rather, if only emotions would fade away, really…!”

Russell, who had been trying to suppress his voice from getting louder, pulled at his tie with a frustrated look.

The deep blue tie fell to the floor with a thud.

“Go back, Summer.”

“…That,”

“You’re going to leave anyway, aren’t you?”

“…!”

How did he. Surprised, Summer covered her mouth with both hands and stepped back.

The blue eyes capturing Summer flickered and shook like those of a deeply wounded beast.

Above his expressionless face, his emotions were clearly revealed.

“If you’re going to leave, just think about leaving. I’m asking you to do just one thing, just one.”

He had been hurt. All along. As much as Summer was precious to him, he had built up just as much pain.

Russell’s Adam’s apple moved roughly. The veins on his clenched jaw bulged.

“Ian. I entrust Lady Lindsey to you. I have things left to do.”

Russell turned his head. Ian, who had sensed the situation, glanced at Julian once and came down the stairs.

“Summer, let’s go.”

Ian lightly grabbed Summer’s arm. Summer followed Ian but kept staring at Russell.

How did you know? Since when? Then what did you think when you saw me? Why do you always make people misunderstand and shake with those eyes? So are you going to kill me?

All sorts of unanswered questions painfully pricked her mind.

Russell did not look at Summer until the end. Just at that passing moment, in a low voice.

“Everything is according to your will.”